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org Campus November 3, 2010 | 3

Self-defense seminar prepares community for danger
Rachel Peel
rlpeel@mail.txwes.edu
Students, faculty and staff
suited up in athletic gear and
kicked up their heels to take on
dangerous scenarios last week.
On Oct. 28, Krav Maga did
a free self-defense seminar for
the Wesleyan community up-
stairs in the Sid Richardson
Center. Christopher Windsor,
assistant dean of students, said
he got the idea of the seminar
from his wife. She is a med-
student at the UNT Health
Science Center, and she told
Windsor about Krav Maga In-
ternational Federation hosting
a seminar at her school.
“My wife went and abso-
lutely loved it, just felt like she
learned a lot, not only on the
self-defense techniques, but
also the kind of psychology
behind attackers and victims,”
Windsor said.
The seminar taught the par-
ticipants about the psychology
of an attacker. The attacker as-
sumes he or she is in control
over his victim. Krav Maga
taught the participants how to
avoid an attack, and then how
to regain control if attacked.
“I enjoyed it, very informa-
tive. I learned a lot tonight, how
to protect myself and someone
with me,” said Michael Frank-
“I think it is very
helpful and that it
can be used in ev-
eryday life if you’re
getting mugged.”
Kristi Roberts
freshman
athletic training major
lin, campus security guard. “I
think it will come in handy so
that I can protect the students
and the faculty and any visitors
that are up here.”
The seminar taught partici-
pants how to be aware of their
surroundings, how to retaliate
if attacked and how to pro-
tect someone else who is with
them.
Kristi Roberts, freshman
athletic training major, said
she found the training valu-
able. Rachel Peel | Rambler Staff
“I think it is very helpful and Taylor Pokluda learns how to block an attacker with an open palm instead of a closed fist during the Krav Maga self defense
that it can be used in everyday seminar Oct. 28. The class instructor explained that a closed fist tenses the muscles in the body and makes reflexes slower.
life if you’re getting mugged,
especially in the area that we self defense system of the Is- the United States. Krav Maga training scenarios.” know what that fluttering feels
are in,” she said. raeli Defense Forces and has is a simple, effective self de- During the class, the in- like in your chest when you see
According to their website, been taught to hundreds of fense system that emphasizes structor said, “Our motto is someone suspicious, and how
“Krav Maga is a global orga- law enforcement agencies instinctive movements, prac- so that one may walk in peace, uneasy that feels, and that is
nization and is the official and thousands of civilians in tical techniques, and realistic and what that means is that I why we do what we do.”

LEGAL continued from page 1

Thursdays.
“We wanted to make sure
we had a support organiza-
tion for the paralegal studies
students on campus,” Kirby
said. “We want to strengthen
our visibility in the local legal
community by connecting
with the organizations that
there are in Tarrant Coun-
ty like the Tarrant County
Paralegals Association and
the Metro Corporate Parale-
gals Association.”
The organization is still in
the initial planning stages
to be a certified Wesleyan
organization, but Kirby said
when spring comes, they will
have programs, speakers and
events.
“We’re a little program
within the big scheme of
things here at TWU,” Kirby
said. “We have about 40
paralegal studies majors, but
we’re growing, and so we
need to have more available
for the students as we grow.”
Wesleyan’s paralegal or-
ganization is headed by a
student with experience in
paralegal organizations, ju-
nior paralegal studies major
John West.
“I’m the former president
of the paralegal student or-
ganization at Tarrant County
College Northeast Campus,
and the objective of the or-
ganization is to set up a
networking opportunity for
students by educating them
on all the other networking
type areas that are available
to them on a national level,”
he said.
West said a paralegal de-
gree does not limit one to
just being a paralegal. An ac-
quaintance of his is the head
of a human resources de-
partment and is a paralegal.
“It’s your ability to under-
stand the language of legal-
ese and law and you’re abil-
ity to work with important
documents that makes you a
viable employee in many dif-
ferent areas, which is an as-
set in our current economy,”
West said.
West said there are about
400 paralegals in Fort Worth.
“Networking is definitely
a key to success. If you want
to get a job and get some-
where with your education,
you have to network,” West
said. “This organization pro-
vides a stepping stone into
the world of networking
,so when you do get out of
school, people will remem-
ber you, especially if you
have an organization like
this one backing you.”
Amanda Smith, junior
paralegal studies major, said
it’s important to incorpo-
rate students in the paralegal
program, because the legal
area is so vast.
“There are various differ-
ent areas of law,” Smith said.
“Being a paralegal, you can
work in any of those differ-
ent areas.”
Smith said she’s excited
about being involved at the
beginning.
“I think it’s going to be re-
ally neat to be involved with
the core group that started
the organization, wrote the
constitution, bylaws and
to make it good enough to
have the interest and make
it last after we’re gone,”
Smith said. “This can help
us transition from parale-
gal studies to law school or
transition from our studies
in college to a job in the real
world.”

CANDIDATE continued from page 1

continue to support that mis-
sion.
Slabach said, if chosen for
Wesleyan president, he would
like to get all tiers of the Wes-
leyan community involved.
“My number one priority
would be to institute a process
by which the faculty, the stu-
dents, the alumni, the board
and the community of Fort
Worth all have input in a pro-
cess that helps us determine
where we want to go as a uni-
versity,” Slabach said.
The audience had more Meisa Keivani Najafabadi | Rambler Staff
questions, but the limited time Dr. Ellen Curtain, director of the doctoral education program,
constraints prevented Slabach sits with Associate Provost Dr. Helena Bussell during the fac-
from getting to them all. The ulty forum with presidential candidate Frederick Slabach.
exchange of ideas within the
hour of the meeting gave fac- He seems an outstanding can- demic programs were the pri-
ulty an up-close and personal didate. The other one’s got a lot mary issues discussed during
look at one of Wesleyan’s two to live up to.” the session.
presidential finalists. After the meeting conclud- Student representative Kev-
Associate professor of edu- ed, communications professor in Keathley said the dialogue
cation Dr. Ellen Curtin said Dr. Benjamin Hale said, “Dean with Slabach was a breath of
she was impressed with the Slabach clearly has the cre- fresh air.
presentation. dentials that could make for a A called meeting for Nov. 9
“Overall I think he seems to good president.” will give faculty members an
understand our mission,” Cur- Slabach met with represen- opportunity to meet with the
tin said. “I was very impressed tatives of the Student Govern- second candidate for the post,
with his vision. ment Association on Oct. 29 Dr. Sandra Harper who cur-
Dr. Marilyn Pugh, associate in the SGA chamber to discuss rently serves as the President
professor of psychology, said students’ concerns. Student of Our Lady of the Lake Col-
Slabach was “a total package. life, campus security, and aca- lege in Baton Rouge, La.

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